Terrible Advice

[Double Trouble]

What happens if someone isn't picking up a signal though?

Lead stronger, or do something else. It's extremely annoying when leads start telling you what to do next.

[Twirly]

Lead stronger, or do something else. It's extremely annoying when leads start telling you what to do next.

I think I'd put the "lead stronger" in the bad advice category! A chap on Saturday I danced with was a strong lead, but I didn't "get" one or two things he tried to lead, so he started leading more and more strongly rather than more clearly... and I got a sore right arm

[Double Trouble]

I think I'd put the "lead stronger" in the bad advice category! A chap on Saturday I danced with was a strong lead, but I didn't "get" one or two things he tried to lead, so he started leading more and more strongly rather than more clearly... and I got a sore right arm

lead clearer then just don't instruct verbally.

[Trouble]

I think I'd put the "lead stronger" in the bad advice category! A chap on Saturday I danced with was a strong lead, but I didn't "get" one or two things he tried to lead, so he started leading more and more strongly rather than more clearly... and I got a sore right arm

I WOULD HAVE STOPPED HIM AND SAID...

do you mind very much not pulliing my arm out of its socket or i might be forced to stick my toe up ya ass.

[TurboTomato]

Lead stronger, or do something else. It's extremely annoying when leads start telling you what to do next.

How can I lead a signal stronger?

I'm not in the habit of telling someone what to do, if someone misses a signal then I may try again to see if it was a one off and then I'll not try again, it's just a shame as I enjoy that move

[Trouble]

How can I lead a signal stronger?

I'm not in the habit of telling someone what to do, if someone misses a signal then I may try again to see if it was a one off and then I'll not try again, it's just a shame as I enjoy that move

you dont need to lead it stronger you just need to lead it more defined or accurate. you should be able to lead with just a little finger........

[LMC]

What happens if someone isn't picking up a signal though?

Good job I've still got the can-opener.

Signals are Evil.

One exception: *agreed* signals between regular dance partners, used only with each other, to indicate an "unleadable" move that both partners know - some drops and aerials do need signals to prepare safely. Since I don't like unleadable moves and won't learn them and don't have a regular dance partner this does not apply to me.

Otherwise, different signals mean different things to different people. I am a follower. I follow. I don't learn moves (and rarely remember names of intermediate moves as so many are like "armjiveswizzlebasketalleluliawithdoublebackhander "- so it's no good shouting move names at me. If someone is struggling, and explains what they are trying to do, and we decide to work on it together, that's *entirely* different - it's dance floor drill (one-word orders) from arrogant move monsters who are just using me as a prop that I'm complaining about here. One well-known face on the scene won't dance with me any more since I stopped the dance and said to him "Please just lead me - I don't remember move names" (the track was Fire, *** - talk about ruining the mood). No great loss, frankly (on either side )

Unless you are working on something by agreement, if something isn't working, then lead something different/turn it into something else.

I hate it when a guy taps his thumb on my hand "significantly". I follow whatever he's leading. Repeated thumb taps are likely to make me stop the dance and ask him what they mean. Then ask if the move has in fact gone right. If so, then I explain he doesn't actually need that thumb tap, because I followed it, didn't I? If another follower is not following it, then the lead should be adapting to them - not expecting them to learn the move for the lead's own gratification. If the move hasn't gone right, then it's either not leadable or he can't lead it so that I understand it (might be my faulty connection or his lead). Depending on the move/partner/track/mood, we'll either work on it, or "forget it". (NB that conversation does take place politely, I've typed the brutal version for speed).

Signals can be dangerous. A well-known signal is lead tapping their shoulder to indicate a First Move Jump. I danced with someone who used a shoulder tap as arm styling (I know that's what he was doing, I asked eventually) - he confirmed that he was NOT leading a First Move Jump. Just as well I was following and ignoring the mixed message of the signal - otherwise one of us could have ended up with a serious injury.

I'm not in the habit of telling someone what to do, if someone misses a signal then I may try again to see if it was a one off and then I'll not try again, it's just a shame as I enjoy that move

Definition of what you mean by a signal please? If a thumb tap/similar gesture which is nothing to do with the connection - big big big bad.

Remember - there are 600+ MJ "moves". You lead what you know. I bet it's not as many as 600. However, dancing with different leads all night, followers could *well* be following hundreds of different moves in one freestyle. We cannot *possibly* be expected to learn or remember them all. This is a) why the lead needs to lead and b) why the lead should always adapt to the follower's ability and not the other way around.

[TurboTomato]

you dont need to lead it stronger you just need to lead it more defined or accurate. you should be able to lead with just a little finger........

Ah yes I can do that - by signal I mean say for instance when you put your right arm up (your right arm down, up, down..... no that's something else) when you're not holding on with your right to signal a neck-break (or whatever it's called) or the right arm behind the back to signal a pretzel etc. The particular one I'm thinking of starts off like a yoyo and is called the secret move where you signal with your left arm across your body.

That was my point - how can you lead a signal more strongly if you're not actually in contact with that hand?

[Trouble]

Ah yes I can do that - by signal I mean say for instance when you put your right arm up (your right arm down, up, down..... no that's something else) when you're not holding on with your right to signal a neck-break (or whatever it's called) or the right arm behind the back to signal a pretzel etc. The particular one I'm thinking of starts off like a yoyo and is called the secret move where you signal with your left arm across your body.

That was my point - how can you lead a signal more strongly if you're not actually in contact with that hand?

mind reading maybe!!! I dont think you can babe

[Twirly]

Remember - there are 600+ MJ "moves". You lead what you know. I bet it's not as many as 600. However, dancing with different leads all night, followers could *well* be following hundreds of different moves in one freestyle. We cannot *possibly* be expected to learn or remember them all. This is a) why the lead needs to lead and b) why the lead should always adapt to the follower's ability and not the other way around.

I tried to rep you for all of the above but it wouldn't let me

I've highlighted the most important bit to me. The exception being, or course, when the follower is dancing with a newbie lead.

[Dreadful Scathe]

How can I lead a signal stronger?

If you lead more carefully, its always a stronger signal to the follower. "Stronger" here refers to the strength of signal, not the strength of the leader

[SeriouslyAddicted]

Ah yes I can do that - by signal I mean say for instance when you put your right arm up (your right arm down, up, down..... no that's something else) when you're not holding on with your right to signal a neck-break (or whatever it's called) or the right arm behind the back to signal a pretzel etc. The particular one I'm thinking of starts off like a yoyo and is called the secret move where you signal with your left arm across your body.

That was my point - how can you lead a signal more strongly if you're not actually in contact with that hand?

Erm - grow longer arms so we can actually see the secret move or pretzel signal!

[Astro]

Erm - grow longer arms so we can actually see the secret move or pretzel signal!

Yeah, it's quite dark most places. I find it helpful if the lead flaps his hand about when it's behind his back, makes it easier to spot.

[StokeBloke]

Yeah, it's quite dark most places. I find it helpful if the lead flaps his hand about when it's behind his back, makes it easier to spot.

Unfortuanately this also looks (IMO) nasty. If I signal a move and it isn't spotted, we don't do that move - no biggy, there's 599 other ones to work through in those three minutes

If someone misses (or ignores ) a pretzel signal, does that make it an almost-almost-pretzel

[Yliander]

What happens if someone isn't picking up a signal though?

then generally it means you ain't leading it right

[Trouble]

then generally it means you ain't leading it right

Blimey Yli, you beginning to sounds like a right londoner.

[Mac]

Yeah, it's quite dark most places. I find it helpful if the lead flaps his hand about when it's behind his back, makes it easier to spot.

Yeah I do that!! Mind you I did it once and had my girlie in fits. She thought I had grown tail feathers so I guess you can over do it!

[CJ]

then generally it means you ain't leading it right

Blimey Yli, you beginning to sounds like a right Aussie.

[TurboTomato]

Ah yes I can do that - by signal I mean say for instance when you put your right arm up (your right arm down, up, down..... no that's something else) when you're not holding on with your right to signal a neck-break (or whatever it's called) or the right arm behind the back to signal a pretzel etc. The particular one I'm thinking of starts off like a yoyo and is called the secret move where you signal with your left arm across your body.

That was my point - how can you lead a signal more strongly if you're not actually in contact with that hand?

then generally it means you ain't leading it right

Erm...

You mean I'm not doing the correct signal? As I said my point was about signals that do not involve contact.

[philsmove]

It is customary to shake hands with every occupant of a tube train when entering the carriage.
Have you tried the echo in the reading room of the British Museum?